Identity verification and access control

Abstract

A system and method of identity verification and access control of patrons to a venue in which a biometric reader is provided for reading an identifying biological characteristic of the patron. A biometric information processing means is provided for generating a unique biometric information key for the patron based on the identifying biological characteristic read by the biometric reader. A primary database for stores the biometric information keys of newly enrolled patrons and all patrons who have previously attended the venue and been enrolled. A means is also provided to record information indicating that one or more of the biometric information keys belong to patrons that have been banned access to the venue. An access data processing means compares the biometric information key generated by the biometric information processing means with the biometric information keys stored in said primary database in order to verify both the identity of the patron and whether the patron is banned access, prior to permitting the patron access to the venue.

1 . A system of identity verification and access control of patrons to a venue, the system comprising:
 a biometric reader for reading an identifying biological characteristic of the patron;   biometric information processing means for generating a unique biometric information key for the patron based on said identifying biological characteristic read by the biometric reader;   a primary database for storing the biometric information keys of newly enrolled patrons and all patrons who have previously attended the venue and been enrolled;   a means to record information indicating that one or more of the biometric information keys belong to patrons that have been banned access to the venue; and   an access data processing means for comparing said biometric information key generated by said biometric information processing means with the biometric information keys stored in said primary database in order to verify both the identity of the patron and whether the patron has been banned access, prior to permitting the patron access to the venue.   
   
   
       2 . A system of identity verification and access control in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the means to record information indicating that one or more of the biometric keys belong to banned patrons comprises a secondary database in which is stored biometric keys of banned patrons. 
   
   
       3 . A system of identity verification and access control in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the secondary database contains information regarding the time duration for which each patron is banned and the access data processing means compares the time duration with the time at which the patron attempts to gain access to the venue. 
   
   
       4 . A system of identity verification and access control in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein information regarding identifying documents of a patron is combined with the biometric information key of the patron to form a unique identification record that is stored in the primary database. 
   
   
       4 . A system of identity verification and access control in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein an enrolment terminal is provided at an access point to the venue, the enrolment terminal including the biometric reader and the biometric information processing means. 
   
   
       5 . A system of identity verification and access control in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the enrolment terminal is in communication with a central server on which is provided the primary database and the access data processing means. 
   
   
       6 . A system of identity verification and access control in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein the enrolment terminal includes a means to input information regarding a patron along with the read biological characteristic of the patron to enrol the patron in the primary database. 
   
   
       7 . A system of identity verification and access control in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the means to input information includes a first display on which can be displayed questions for the patron to obtain said information regarding the patron. 
   
   
       8 . A system of identity verification and access control in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein the first display displays information including the results of
 whether a patron's identity has been verified and whether the patron has been banned access to the venue can be displayed.   
   
   
       10 . A system of identity verification and access control in accordance with claim  9 , wherein the enrolment terminal includes a second display for displaying information to a crowd control officer. 
   
   
       11 . A system of identity verification and access control in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the enrolment terminal includes a document scanning means to scan the identifying documents of a patron such that the scanned information is combined with the biometric information key from the biometric reader and transmitted to the central server as the unique identification record. 
   
   
       12 . A system of identity verification and access control in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the biometric reader comprises a fingerprint scanner. 
   
   
       13 . A system of identity verification and access control in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the scanned fingerprint is converted into a binary number representing the unique characteristics of the ridges and meridian points of the fingerprint, the binary number forming the biometric information key. 
   
   
       14 . A system of identity verification and access control in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein a means to capture image information for each patron at the time of entry is provided. 
   
   
       15 . A system of identity verification and access control in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the means to capture image information comprises a camera connected to the enrolment terminal, the camera being arranged to take a picture of each patron attempting to enter the venue via the enrolment terminal. 
   
   
       16 . A system of identity verification and access control in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein a review tool is provided, the review tool allowing an authorised person to review the image information of patrons entering the venue within a particular time frame and the unique identification records of those patrons stored in the primary database. 
   
   
       17 . A system of identity verification and access control in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein the review tool comprises software on the central server. 
   
   
       18 . A system of identity verification and access control in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein the review tool includes means to select one or more of the unique identification records of those patrons entering the venue within the time frame for inclusion in the secondary database. 
   
   
       19 . A system of identity verification and access control in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein the review tool includes means to add information regarding the time duration of the ban and reason for the ban to the secondary database. 
   
   
       20 . A system of identity verification and access control in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the primary database comprises: an alpha database in which are stored the biometric information keys of a selected number of the most recent patrons to enter the venue; and a beta database in which are stored the biometric information keys of all patrons entering the venue;
 wherein the access data processing means compares first the generated biometric information key generated with the biometric information keys stored in said alpha database and if no match is found, compares the generated biometric information key generated with the biometric information keys stored in said beta database.   
   
   
       21 . A system of identity verification and access control in accordance with  claim 1  wherein an event database is provided in which is stored information specific to an event, and the access data processing means compares the information contained in the unique identification record of a patron with the event database information to determine whether access to the current event is permitted. 
   
   
       22 . A system of identity verification and access control in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein the stored information in the event database includes age restrictions on the event and the access data processing means compares age information stored in the unique identification record of a patron with the age restriction. 
   
   
       23 . A system of identity verification and access control in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein a means is provided to store membership information in the primary database for enrolled patrons. 
   
   
       24 . A system of identity verification and access control in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein a means is provided to display survey questions on the enrolment terminal and store the patrons answers to the survey questions along with information contained in the primary database about the patron. 
   
   
       25 . A system of identity verification and access control in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein a means is provided to search the primary database based on information contained in the primary database other than the biometric information key. 
   
   
       26 . A method of identity verification and access control of patrons to a venue, the method comprising the steps of:
 reading an identifying biological characteristic of a patron;   generating a unique biometric information key for the patron based on said identifying biological characteristic;   storing the biometric information keys of newly enrolled patrons and all patrons who have previously attended the venue and been enrolled;   storing information indicating that one or more of the biometric information keys belongs to a patron that has been banned access to the venue;   comparing said unique biometric information key with the stored biometric information keys in order to verify both the identity of the patron and whether the patron is banned access, prior to permitting the patron access to the venue.   
   
   
       27 . A method of identity verification and access control in accordance with  claim 26 , wherein the biometric keys belonging to banned patrons are stored in a secondary database. 
   
   
       28 . A method of identity verification and access control in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein information regarding the time duration for which each patron is banned is stored in the secondary database and the access data processing means compares the time duration with the time at which the patron attempts to gain access to the venue. 
   
   
       29 . A method of identity verification and access control in accordance with  claim 26 , wherein information regarding identifying documents of a patron is combined with the biometric information key of the patron to form a unique identification record that is stored in the primary database. 
   
   
       30 . A method of identity verification and access control in accordance  claim 26 , wherein an enrolment terminal is provided at an access point to the venue and the enrolment terminal communicates with a central server on which is provided the primary database and access data processing means. 
   
   
       31 . A method of identity verification and access, control in accordance with  claim 30 , wherein the method includes the steps of displaying on a first display on the enrolment terminal, information including the results of whether a patron's identity has been verified and whether the patron has been banned access to the venue. 
   
   
       32 . A method of identity verification and access control in accordance with  claim 26 , wherein the step of reading biometric information comprises scanning fingerprints. 
   
   
       33 . A method of identity verification and access control in accordance with  claim 32 , wherein the biometric information key is formed by converting the scanned fingerprint into a binary number representing the unique characteristics of the ridges and meridian points of the fingerprint. 
   
   
       34 . A method of identity verification and access control in accordance with  claim 26 , wherein the method includes the step of capturing image information for each patron at the time of entry. 
   
   
       35 . A method of identity verification and access control in accordance with  claim 34 , wherein a camera is used to capture the image information. 
   
   
       36 . A method of identity verification and access control in accordance with  claim 26 , wherein the method includes:
 comparing the generated biometric information key generated with the biometric information keys stored in an alpha database, in which are stored the biometric information keys of a selected number of the most recent patrons to enter the venue; and   if no match is found, comparing the generated biometric information key generated with the biometric information keys stored in a beta database in which are stored the biometric information keys of all patrons entering the venue.   
   
   
       37 . A method of identity verification and access control in accordance with  claim 26  including the step of storing information specific to an event in an event database and comparing the information contained in the unique identification record of a patron with the event database information to determine whether access to the current event is permitted. 
   
   
       38 . A method of identity verification and access control in accordance with  claim 26 , wherein membership information is stored in the primary database for enrolled patrons and this membership information is accessed by the access data processing means when the patron enters the venue via the enrolment terminal. 
   
   
       39 . A method of identity verification and access control in accordance with  claim 30 , wherein survey questions are displayed on the enrolment terminal and the answers to the survey questions provided by the patron are stored along with information contained in the primary database about the patron.